Hopefully you will find this page helpful, especially if you have had little experience with Domain Names and Web Hosting. If after looking through the list you find you still have a query unanswered, please phone or email us or use the chat facility if available and we will be more than happy to help and we will also add your query to the list to help others.

Domain Names - Hosting Help is here
What is a domain name?
Do I have to have a business to get one?
Do I need one?
What domains do you sell?
What is the best domain name for me?
Can I buy domains of just two letters?
What about dashes?
What if I can't get the domain I want?
How much are they and are there any hidden fees?
How will I know when the registration is due for renewal?
What do I get for my money?
How do I pay for the name?
Can I cancel a Domain Purchase?
How long does it take for the domain to work?
Once I buy the domain is it always mine?
What is the point in just having a domain but no web site?
What is email forwarding?
What if I want the site hosted later?
What if I want the site hosted now?
What if I want the site hosted by someone else?
How can I contact you?

Hosting
What is web hosting and why do I need it?
How do I get hosting?
How much does it cost and are there any hidden fees?
What does the package consist of?
What about WordPress?
How do I pay?
Does your hosting carry your banners or adverts on my web pages?
What if I have a domain name I bought elsewhere and want hosting from QA?
What if I bought a domain name from QA some time ago and now want it hosting?
How much web space do I get and what is a MB?
How long before my web space is active?
What is the Hosting For Life deal?
Can I cancel Hosting?
What is a Control Panel?
What is FTP?
What is email forwarding?
What is a POP box?
What is an Autoresponder?
What are PHP and Perl
What is a subdomain?
What is DNS?
What is an IPS Tag?
If I get stuck will you help?
Can I add further features to the space and at what cost?
If I get lots of visitors will I have to pay more?
Can you help if my site is a success and I need advice?
Can you build my web site?
How can I contact you?

What is a domain name?      [TOP]
A domain name is something that is used to identify a piece of web space that houses a web site. In reality that web space is identified by a set of numbers like 242.89.67.87 (an IP Address) - but as humans are less likely to forget words a name is "attached" to those numbers and is unique to that web space.

Do I have to have a business to get one?      [TOP]
No. Anyone anywhere can purchase a domain name and pretty much use it for whatever they like providing they are not infringing someone else's copyright or trademark.

What domains do you sell?       [TOP]
We sell numerous domain names, from those everyone recognises to the newer and esser known ones. Please visit the domains page for a ful list.

What is the best domain name for me?      [TOP]
There are so many to choose from these days it can be a little overwhelming. Most people still go for a .co.uk or .com but there is a certain amount of sense in .shop if you are selling online for example. many people buy several domains comprising of the same name but wuth different extensions and use them in different ways when advertising. At the end of the day it is what you are most happy with.

Can I buy domains of just two letters?      [TOP]
Not with UK domain names, .biz or .info and all the .com two letter names are gone!

What about dashes?      [TOP]
There are mixed views about putting dashes in a domain name (by dashes we mean the - sign) Generally there is no harm apart from a number of dashes in a name can make it a bit of a mouthful to tell people. However, it may be the way to get the name you need and include words that will help with search engine rankings.
Dashes can go-in-between-words but NOT at the beginning or end ; www.-domains-.com

What if I can't get the domain I want?      [TOP]
Good domain names are rare so you might have to add dashes in between words or add a call to action at the beginning of the name: www.domainames.com is gone so try www.fastdomainnames.com or www.fast-domain-names.com or www.quick-domain-names.co.uk and so on. Eventually you should find a combination that works.

How much are they and are there any hidden fees?      [TOP]
..Please see our prices page for a full list of domain and their prices. Other than hosting if you by a domain name there are no further costs.

How will I know when the registration is due for renewal?      [TOP]
We will email and let you know in good time - if you want to renew the registration simply pay the fee again or let it expire if you no longer want the domain. Letting a domain expire is not like ignoring a bill and doesn't prevent you from registering other domains at a later time - there is of course the possibility that should you want to register a name that you previously owned but let expire then somebody else may have bought that name and there isn't anything you can do about it. It is also your responsibility to ensure that any domain name you own is renewed. Whilst QAwebhosting will send reminders as the renewal time approaches it is not our resposibility to ensure the domain name is renewed in time and we are not liable if a domain is not renewed and is consequently lost.

What do I get for my money?      [TOP]
You get registration for however many years you specified - - . The domain can be parked - just purchased but with no function, waiting whilst you decide what you want to do with it. You also get email addresses and forwarding and web forwarding if required and these are at no extra cost. See other questions for explanations of these terms.

How do I pay for the name?      [TOP]
You can search for an available domain name and purchase through the online form at the end using your credit card or PayPal account - this is completely secure and handled by PayPal, a reputable merchant service- (QAWebhosting do not receive details of your credit card this way, only PayPal and the actioning bank). If you do not wish to use PayPal please let us know and we can arrange an alternative method of payment usually in the form of a bank transfer.

Can I cancel a Domain Purchase?     [TOP]
Once a Domain has been registered it cannot be canceled. After the initial registration period has expired it can then be allowed to relapse.

How long does it take for the domain to work?      [TOP]
24 hours after a domain has been registered it should be showing as belonging to you. The best way to check this is to search for it as if you were wanting to buy it and then click on current owner information - this should show your details. If it doesn't allow another 12 hours and if you still see the name as available let us know immediately. Please Note: During that 24 hour period your name may well show as still being available.

Once I buy the domain is it always mine?      [TOP]
The domain is yours for as long as you registered it. Providing you renew the name there is no reason why you shouldn't own it for as long as you wish.

What is the point in just having a domain but no web site?      [TOP]
You may want to make sure nobody else gets it! You may own a .com but want the .co.uk to avoid visitor confusion. You may just not have finished designing your site and want to wait before getting hosting or maybe you just want a personalised email address as opposed to an outlook or gmail account.

What is email forwarding?      [TOP]
If you buy www.yourdomain.com email forwarding allows you to have as many email addresses as you wish for that domain. So that means you can have steve@yourdomain.com, fred@yourdomain.com, sales@yourdomain.com, enquiries@yourdomain.com, in fact, as many of those addresses as you wish. And they can all be forwarded to an email accent of your choice. So if your email address is bob@gmail.com or bob@outlook.com any email to those addresses above will land in your gmail or outlook email account. You also have stand alone email which means you create an email box in your control panel and you then configure this in your software client or collect your email and create emails via webmail.

What if I want the site hosted later?      [TOP]
No problem, just let us know when you are ready and we can tell you how to make payment then set it up immediately.

What if I want the site hosted now?      [TOP]
If you need a domain name and hosting search for that domain from the QA home page and just before the order form there are options to add a hosting package to your chosen domain.

What if I want the site hosted by someone else?      [TOP]
Just let us know the host's details and we will do this within 24 hours free of charge. Normally a hosting company will tell you exactly what details you need to give us.

How can I contact you?      [TOP]
Just use any of the methods on the contact page - email, phone or fax.

Hosting
What is web hosting and why do I need it?       [TOP]
When you type in a domain name you generally then see a set of pages making up a web site. Originally these pages would have been constructed on a computers' hard drive. Once their creator is happy with the site he then needs a computer that is continually connected to the Internet so that anyone from anywhere can see the site at any time. This is the web space and the site is hosted on that computer. We provide that web space so you can "publish" your web site for al the world to see!

How do I get hosting?       [TOP]
If you already have a domain name and just require the web space fill search for that name and use the "hosting only" button in the shopping cart. If you need a domain name as well search for that domain from the QA home page and just before the order form there are options to add a hosting package to your chosen domain.

How much does it cost and are there any hidden fees?       [TOP]
This is best explained on the hosting page.

What does the package consist of?     [TOP]
The package consists of the features listed on the hosting page. As well as the "hardware" you also get an assurance that we will be help with any specific web related problem you may have provided it is within our knowledge!

What about WordPress?       [TOP]
Just log into your control panel, scroll down until you see the WordPress logo, click on it then install in about ten seconds - you are then all set to start building your site. it's as simple as that!

How do I pay?       [TOP]
You can either search for an available domain and purchase it along with hosting through the online form at the end using your credit card - this is completely secure and handled by PayPal, a reputable merchant service- (QAWebhosting do not receive details of your credit card this way, only Paypal and the actioning bank) if you do not wish to use PayPal please let us know and we will arrange a different method of payment - usually a bank transfer.

Does your hosting carry your banners or adverts on my web pages?       [TOP]
No, none whatsoever - when you buy hosting hosting from QA that web space will only show whatever you put there.

What if I have a domain name I bought elsewhere and want hosting from QA?  [TOP]
No problem, place your order and we will contact you right away with instructions on how to move the domain from your current host or domain holder.

What if I bought a domain name from QA some time ago and now want it hosting?
Just search for the domain from the QA home page and choose "hosting only" in the shopping cart [TOP]

How much web space do I get and what is a MB?      [TOP]
A MB is a megabyte which is a measure of computer space. You get unlimited web space with all hosting packages although there is a fair usage policy to protect our other clients. We will let you know if you come close to getting to that point and work with you to find a workaround..

How long before my web space is active?     [TOP]
The FTP details will be with you within a couple of hours normally. Usually it can take a few hours for the domain name to associate with the web space and then you are up and running!!

What is the hosting for life deal?    [TOP]
It mans exactly what it says, you pay one fee and your website is hosted forever - you never pay another penny other than to renew your domain name. Full details are on the Hosting For Life page.

Can I cancel Hosting?     [TOP]
If you wish to cancel hosting this can be done if notified by email but one month must have elapsed since ordering the hosting. Your money will be refunded less however months the hosting had been active and less the cost of the domain name if bought with hosting.

What is a Control Panel?       [TOP]
The Control Panel is an area you log on to and can change email rules, add POP boxes, autoresponders and manage databases amonst other facilities - this is useful if you intend to perform a lot of configurations of this kind. Changes made from the control panel are also instant. You can find more information on this on the cpanel page.

What is FTP?      [TOP]
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol and is something novice webmasters sometimes struggle with in the beginning. FTP allows the transfer of your web pages and images from your computer to your web space.Please get in touch with support if you need help with this.

What is email forwarding?      [TOP]
If you buy www.yourdomain.com email forwarding allows you to have as many email addresses as you wish for that domain. So that means you can have steve@yourdomain.com, fred@yourdomain.com, sales@yourdomain.com, enquiries@yourdomain.com, in fact, as many of those addresses as you wish. And they can all be forwarded to an email accent of your choice. So if your email address is bob@gmail.com or bob@hotmail.com any email to those addresses above will land in your gmail or hotmail email account.

What is a POP box?      [TOP]
This allows you greater control over email - you can have several POP boxes set to deliver mail to individuals - which allows for privacy and automatic distribution of mail to whoever it is intended to be delivered to.

What is an Autoresponder?      [TOP]
An autoresponder automatically sends a message back to the sender of the incoming message to your POP box - say for example you were on holiday, the autoresponder could be set to send the message - "thanks very much for your enquiry - i am away from the office at present but will deal with your enquiry on my return" - back to the sender of each message it recieves.

What are PHP and Perl       [TOP]
These are all various forms of web page authoring or ways to get things to happen on your site. They are more advanced than basic web page writing but if you are going to learn any of them or have your site designed by an agency they are important to have as available.

What is a subdomain?      [TOP]
Sometimes you will have seen a domain name like http://members.qawebhosting.com this is a web site within a web site. You simply add a word or words before the main domain name, put a dot and you have another website complete with its own features, email and more. This is handy if you intend to have members areas or various departments to your site. 5 Sub domains come free with each package but we do have to set them up so you have to let us know what you want.

What is DNS?      [TOP]
DNS are what a web domain name attaches to and shows the web site within that web space. A domain name requires these to function. If you were to move a web site from one host to another then you need to tell the old host the new DNS - they then attach the new DNS to the domain name and a short time later the web site will show at its new web space.

What is an IPS Tag?      [TOP]
An IPS tag identifies who has control of the domain, if you want your new host to be able to modify the details of the domain - contact and technical contacts etc., then the control of the domain must be changed along with the DNS.

If I get stuck will you help?      [TOP]
No problem, the only time we won't help is if we can't! There is also a great deal of help accessible within cpanel once you have a hosting account..

Can I add further features to the space and at what cost?      [TOP]
Our package consists of just about everything you will ever need for your web site - there are no extras, no hidden costs. Once you have purchased your web space the only further charges will be the annual fee in a years time.

If I get lots of visitors will I have to pay more?      [TOP]
Bandwidth is the amount of accrued data transferred between your web site and the sites visitors - 1.5 GB is more than ample for just about every web site - should you exceed this limit by a small amount every so often you will not incur any penalties. Should your site become a large drain on our resources we do reserve the right to suspend your account until a suitable solution is reached.

Can you help if my site is a success and I need advice?      [TOP]
If you launch what was initially a small site but it takes off unexpectedly and would like help with quickly upgrading the design or want to know what your site may need to help make it more efficient - just let us know!

Can you build my web site?      [TOP]
No, sorry, we don't do that anymore but we have web designers who are clients and we will happily send you their way if you wish.

How can I contact you?      [TOP]
Just use the form, email us directly, use the chat box or phone the number at the top of the page.

E-mail: support@qawebhosting.com